cost estimate of Meade upgrade/ optics correction??

I have an older Meade 12" SCT with standard coatings. A friend of mine
recently evaluated the scope and says that it has spherical aberration and
possibly a turned primary. Question: Can the optics be upgraded/ repaired
by Meade and can anyone give me an estimate of the cost? The corrector
coatings appear to be worn also, so the plate would probably have to be
recoated/ replaced too.

Thanks,
Jon

Jon Kickerston wrote:
I have an older Meade 12" SCT with standard coatings. A friend of mine
recently evaluated the scope and says that it has spherical aberration and
possibly a turned primary. Question: Can the optics be upgraded/ repaired
by Meade and can anyone give me an estimate of the cost? The corrector
coatings appear to be worn also, so the plate would probably have to be
recoated/ replaced too.

Thanks,
Jon

These are not uncommon defects in older Meade SCTs. Defects can be minor
and have no discernible effect on visual performance, or they can be
major, and have a noticeable effect on performance. I would compare the
view through your scope with the view through another 12" SCT before
doing anything rash.

While you're at it, read this:

http://www.cloudynights.com/reviews2/Meade12sct.htm

and you might feel a little better.

Regards,
Etok

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How does this apply to his scope and his question?
jerry



Etok wrote:

Jon Kickerston wrote:
I have an older Meade 12" SCT with standard coatings. A friend of mine
recently evaluated the scope and says that it has spherical aberration and
possibly a turned primary. Question: Can the optics be upgraded/ repaired
by Meade and can anyone give me an estimate of the cost? The corrector
coatings appear to be worn also, so the plate would probably have to be
recoated/ replaced too.

Thanks,
Jon

These are not uncommon defects in older Meade SCTs. Defects can be minor
and have no discernible effect on visual performance, or they can be
major, and have a noticeable effect on performance. I would compare the
view through your scope with the view through another 12" SCT before
doing anything rash.

While you're at it, read this:

http://www.cloudynights.com/reviews2/Meade12sct.htm

and you might feel a little better.

Regards,
Etok

__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com - Accounts Starting At $6.95 - http://www.uncensored-news.com
The Worlds Uncensored News Source

How does this apply to his scope and his question?
jerry



Etok wrote:

Jon Kickerston wrote:
I have an older Meade 12" SCT with standard coatings. A friend of mine
recently evaluated the scope and says that it has spherical aberration and
possibly a turned primary. Question: Can the optics be upgraded/ repaired
by Meade and can anyone give me an estimate of the cost? The corrector
coatings appear to be worn also, so the plate would probably have to be
recoated/ replaced too.

Thanks,
Jon

These are not uncommon defects in older Meade SCTs. Defects can be minor
and have no discernible effect on visual performance, or they can be
major, and have a noticeable effect on performance. I would compare the
view through your scope with the view through another 12" SCT before
doing anything rash.

While you're at it, read this:

http://www.cloudynights.com/reviews2/Meade12sct.htm

and you might feel a little better.

Regards,
Etok

__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com - Accounts Starting At $6.95 - http://www.uncensored-news.com
The Worlds Uncensored News Source

Jon Kickerston wrote:
I have an older Meade 12" SCT with standard coatings. A friend of mine
recently evaluated the scope and says that it has spherical aberration and
possibly a turned primary. Question: Can the optics be upgraded/ repaired
by Meade and can anyone give me an estimate of the cost? The corrector
coatings appear to be worn also, so the plate would probably have to be
recoated/ replaced too.

Thanks,
Jon

These are not uncommon defects in older Meade SCTs. Defects can be minor
and have no discernible effect on visual performance, or they can be
major, and have a noticeable effect on performance. I would compare the
view through your scope with the view through another 12" SCT before
doing anything rash.

While you're at it, read this:

http://www.cloudynights.com/reviews2/Meade12sct.htm

and you might feel a little better.

Regards,
Etok

__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com - Accounts Starting At $6.95 - http://www.uncensored-news.com
The Worlds Uncensored News Source

The corrector
coatings appear to be worn also, so the plate would probably have to be
recoated/ replaced too.

Hi:

Meade can change out the optics set. Cost? Well, I think 8 inch sets are around
500 bucks. HOWEVER...I would _strongly_ recommend that you get a second
opinion. Unless your friend knows what to look for regarding _SCT optics_, and
not just telescope optics in general, it's _quite_ likely your scope suffers
from none of the maladies he's diagnosed. I'm also skeptical that the standard
MCOG coatings have "worn off"...more likely you're seeing some kind of film or
dirt (won't affect performance much one way or another). Again, get a second
opinion before you start messin' around with Meade.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

I have an older Meade 12" SCT with standard coatings. A friend of mine
recently evaluated the scope and says that it has spherical aberration and
possibly a turned primary.

Somethings to consider:

1 How are the views through this scope? Were you happy with the performance
of the scope prior to your "friend's" evaluation?

2. Was the scope critically collimated and well cooled down ? How was the
seeing?

3. I was under the impression that SCTs inharently suffer from spherical
aberration and that one of the purposes of the F6.3 reducer-corrector is to
reduce the inharent spherical aberration. I am wrong on this?

It is my experience that it is easy to fixate on the optical quality of the
scope and the BIG fear here is that "THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY SCOPE."

But if it was giving decent images before the test, there is no reason to
suddenly spend half the cost of an OTA or more just to fix this perceived
problem.

jon

Subject: cost estimate of Meade upgrade/ optics correction??
From: (Jon Isaacs)
Date: 6/15/04 5:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:


Somethings to consider:

1 How are the views through this scope? Were you happy with the performance
of the scope prior to your "friend's" evaluation?

2. Was the scope critically collimated and well cooled down ? How was the
seeing?

3. I was under the impression that SCTs inharently suffer from spherical
aberration and that one of the purposes of the F6.3 reducer-corrector is to
reduce the inharent spherical aberration. I am wrong on this?

It is my experience that it is easy to fixate on the optical quality of the
scope and the BIG fear here is that "THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY SCOPE."

But if it was giving decent images before the test, there is no reason to
suddenly spend half the cost of an OTA or more just to fix this perceived
problem.

jon
*********************
It's not worth redoing the optics, just sell it and get another one!
I've had three 12" LX-200's, one was bad, one was good, and the other was
super...

Chas P.

It's not worth redoing the optics, just sell it and get another one!
I've had three 12" LX-200's, one was bad, one was good, and the other was
super...


I would like to know how folks think one should go about selling a scope
with bad optics (note: I am not saying the original poster's scope has bad
optics - this is a theoretical question). Do you include the bad optics in
the description, e.g. "Selling a 12" LX200 which performs poorly"?

Dennis

Subject: cost estimate of Meade upgrade/ optics correction??
From: "Dennis Woos"
Date: 6/15/04 7:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:


I would like to know how folks think one should go about selling a scope
with bad optics (note: I am not saying the original poster's scope has bad
optics - this is a theoretical question). Do you include the bad optics in
the description, e.g. "Selling a 12" LX200 which performs poorly"?

Dennis
*******************
I sold my bad LX-200 at a loss! I always tell people up front if the optics
are bad or good. I've been buying and selling on Astromart for years, and i
am more than fair with anyone i deal with.

My motto ya dont like return it, for a refund!!!

Chas P.